The news report told us about an Australian ISIS bride who allegedly filmed herself showing her children videos and demanding they re-enact the ‘slaughter’ of an 'infidel.'
The report said her children were just toddlers at the time.
All pretty horrible.
But it started me thinking about this word ‘infidel.’
It has been part of the English language since about 1480 and comes (ultimately) from a Latin source word infidēlis meaning ‘unfaithful, treacherous, disloyal.’
In theory the word ‘infidel’ could be used in any religion to label unbelievers—those who do not share their faith.
But in practice the only religion in the world to so use ‘infidel’ is Islam.
The Arabic word used in the Koran for unbelievers is ‘kafir.’
This is used to label all those who say that Allah is not God and who do not accept the message of Mohamad as his prophet.
A broad definition of kafir means that it includes all non-Muslims.
The definition can have a significant impact on society because the Koran has a collection of verses with punishments against infidels.
The Koran says that if people go on being ‘infidels’ then Muslims should ‘take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them’ (Koran 4:89).
It also says, ‘slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful’ (Koran 9:5).
However, there are some Islamic websites that tell me that unbelievers are not to be considered as infidels: ‘We don’t regard non-Muslims as infidels, meaning that we don’t hate them, we don’t consider them criminals, and we certainly don’t regard them as enemies.’
So, clearly there is a range of opinions about us non-Muslims within Islam.
Remember that, and don’t pre-judge any Muslim you meet!
Tonight I will join James Macpherson as a guest panellist on 'The Macpherson Angle' on Sky News (8pm AEST).
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